Five Painless Phone Calls That Save You Money

Are you looking for quick and painless ways to save money every month? Of course you are….who isn’t nowadays! There is no denying the convenience of online shopping but picking up the phone can actually save you some money.

Talking over the phone has a certain human element you simply can’t get on the internet. You have the opportunity to sell yourself to the person who picks up on the other end. Be convincing and explain to them your situation. Let them know you want to pay your bills but it’s a struggle every month and you need their help in order to make it happen. If you don’t have success with the first person you talk to, hang up and call right back. Chances are you will talk to someone new since their phones ring on a queue.

The frugalista’s at MissMoneyBee.com made a list of the five phone calls you should make today.

1. Credit Card Company: call your credit card company and negotiate with them to lower your annual percentage rate (APR). If you have average to good credit, your APR isn’t necessarily fixed. Explain that you are struggling to make your payments because the interest is all you are able to pay down every month. If they aren’t willing to work with you tell them their competitor offered you a great deal for a balance transfer. Explain to them if they can’t help you, you will make the financial switch as it make sense due to your current financial situation. I have personal experience with this and I promise it does work. After just one simple phone call, I was able to get my interest rate lowered by 5%.
2. Cable Provider: call your cable provider and ask them to match a local competitor’s lower rate. With the recession right now, providers aren’t having the easiest time getting and keeping customers, so they will be more willing to price match. Check out this step-by-step guide on how to bargain better with your cable provider.
3. Car Insurance Company: talk to your car insurance agent about any possible discounts that you could take advantage of. Common discounts often overlooked include good grades and save driver programs. Remember, it’s in their best interest from a monetary standpoint to grant you the discount rather lose your business.
4. Retailers: phone the store where you just made a purchase if you find out the retailer was offering a deal online. For example if you purchase an item in the store at full price but find the same item online at 25% off. You can call the retailer and ask them to retroactively apply the deal to your purchase.
5. Creditor/Lender: if you are struggling to pay your bills and find they simply can’t be paid, pick up the phone and contact your creditor immediately. More often than not lenders are willing to work with you and come up with a payment plan that you can fulfill. Along with you, the last thing they want is to sell your debt to a collections agency. Working out a payment plan is the best case scenario for both you and your creditor, so don’t hesitate to make that call today!